The contentious subject of ties has been raised again in Parliament, with the International Trade Secretary Liam Fox showing off his own English-made example in response to a question about exports.

Tory backbencher Peter Bone, who complained last week that a relaxation of the rule on wearing ties in the House of Commons could damage the “esteem of Parliament”, prodded Speaker John Bercow with a trade question about the neckwear.

“Mr Speaker, you will be delighted to learn that the British tie manufacturers export millions of pounds,” he said.

“Could the Secretary of State suggest how this house could promote the wearing of ties to increase exports?”

Made in England

Mr Fox responded: “I suggest that we can lead by example and I can say that this was made in England,” gesturing to the label on his own tie.

Mr Bercow, who allowed an MP to ask a question tieless last week, implicitly relaxing the parliamentary dress code, gave no quarter.

“I can’t claim mine [is made in England], I’m not sure,” he said, “but I’m sure if they’re so popular, it won’t be necessary to compel people to wear them.”

Tie-gate

Mr Bercow explained his thinking last week, to the horror of Mr Bone and other traditionalist MPs.

“As long as a member arrives in the House in business-like attire the question of whether that member is wearing a tie is not absolutely front and centre stage,” he said.

Ties are not the first niche product pro-Brexit MPs have promoted as the Government explores new opportunities for post-EU trade.

Saudi Toblerones

Boris Johnson highlighted a manufacturer in his constituency of Uxbridge which produces “the wooden display counters that are used to sell the duty-free Toblerones in every Saudi Arabian airport”.

“If we can crack markets like that, think what we can do when we have free trade deals with America, where they still have a ban on British haggis,” he said.

A Defra document released when the department was run by Andrea Leadsom last year highlighted tea, jam and biscuits, which could be targeted at Japan.

Another suggestion, last October, saw the Department of International Trade itself tweeting: “France needs high quality, innovative British jams & marmalades”.

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